Can Communication in Virtual Reality be Effective

Topics for Discussion
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Topics for Discussion
Topic 1: Virtual Reality
Thoughts on the Reading
Virtual reality (VR) still feels like some out-of-this-world technology that has received much attention in recent years. It feels like science fiction, something that can only be imagined. However, the reality is that VR is blending into our lives slowly and will influence our lives in one way or another. The current applications of VR are immense and are changing how we do things. VR is being used for improved customer experience, safety training, and new employee onboarding, among other things, as revealed in the readings. There are more areas to be explored concerning VR applications in different industries. It will be quite interesting to see how the application of VR in communication will unfold. I have gathered from the reading materials that VR is a potential communication medium. It allows individuals in different physical spaces to communicate and engage as though they are in the same physical space. Through immersion, they can share a virtual world that is different from their individual physical environment. More interestingly, VR engages users’ sensory modalities, including auditory and visual senses. Human beings rely on sensory modalities for communication by taking in and interacting with what is happening around them. These sensory modalities are present in VR, and as such, it is interesting to explore how VR can be utilized for effective communication.
Question
Can communication in VR be effective?
Answer
Effective communication, whether in the workplace or personal interactions, involves making sure that the message is understood in the way it was meant to be understood by the communicator. One of the things that influence effective communication is nonverbal cues, such as gestures, facial expressions, and body language. In VR, it is possible to utilize non-verbal communication to enhance the effectiveness of the communication. For instance, Li et al. (2019) reveal that communication in VR involves using communicative gestures, which are accompanied by verbal communication between the users. These communicative gestures have a specific information function that allows the receiver to understand the message the communicator is trying to pass along. The use of gestures will enable users to express their needs and communicate more effectively, especially when the gesture communicates specific information. In addition, there is potential for the incorporation of facial expressions in VR. According to Stevens (2022), there is a new technology that involves users wearing a cap with sensors that records facial movement and expressions in a virtual world. This technology will further enhance non-verbal communication, making communication in VR effective. However, Dzardanova et al. (2022) indicate no signs of VR becoming a standardized medium for communication because it is yet to gain mass attraction. Despite all the potential benefits of VR, it is still unclear whether it will ever be utilized for day-to-day communication for personal or non-commercial purposes.
Conclusion
VR has immense potential ap...